[mrnoodle]

None of the leaders of any of the middle eastern countries will take a cohesive stand against terrorism until they see that it's not going to fly anymore. Iraq is supposedly going to be the model for the new way of doing things in that region. Other countries' leaders are going to view the new government as a US-controlled puppet (a notion fueled by American and European media -- thanks guys) rather than a healthy change. However, the citizens of those countries (and the citizens of Iraq) are more concerned with their day to day lives. It is those people who will be convinced first, and the change will have to work its way up to the leadership. They have these things called free elections now.

why are we so fucking worried about what a bunch of despots and dictators think? The issue at hand is the Iraqi people, and they are enjoying freedom that they've never had thanks to US intervention. Everyone in the region who sees it is eventually going to want a taste for themselves, thus putting political pressure on their respective goverments. The theory in itself is simple. The execution of it isn't simple at all.

I'm determined to wear you down on this point: A Free Iraq Is A Good Thing, Even If The Hated USA Does The Freeing.